For a second, I thought TaylorMade was skipping Black Friday announcements this year. I was under the impression that, like that one neighbor, they had already moved on into December decorations.

Just last week, TaylorMade rolled out their TP5 Collector’s Edition ball set and an Abominable Snowman Spider Headcover. To me, those two releases indicated TaylorMade was well on their way toward Christmas.

As it turned out, they had another surprise for the start of shopping season: a blacked-out version of their popular zero-torque Spider 5K-ZT putter.

Technically, TaylorMade is promoting the Spider ZT Black as a line extension but they also say that quantities of the single-line version will be available in “limited quantities” at retail shops. Let’s just say some will be available for purchase today.

Scarcity aside, the Spider ZT Black is a very interesting (and a bit confounding) take on the outstanding zero-torque Spider 5K-ZT putter.

On one hand, the new TaylorMade 5K-ZT Black is an overall great aesthetic spin on the original Spider 5K-ZT design. On the other hand, it left me with a few questions about the aesthetic choices.

Blacked-out top with new alignment lines

The photo above is what the stock Spider 5K-ZT looks like at address. Its been a while since I shared that photo so I figured that you could use a refresher.

Now let’s look at the new Spider ZT Black.

At address, the TaylorMade Spider ZT Black has a great new look. The top surface is all black and the alignment lines at the front of the putter have tripled in number.

These new painted lines fit right in with the textural grooves that run perpendicular to the putter face. The combination of the two makes framing the ball nearly automatic.

Your eyes are going to be drawn to only one place on this putter.

If the three lines are not to your liking, TaylorMade will also be offering a single-line variant in the black color. It’s another solid-looking putter but I think I like the three lines.

Specifications: TaylorMade Spider ZT Black

Materials: Stainless Steel and aluminum Insert: Black PureRoll

Lengths: Standard: 33″, 34″, and 35″ Counterbalance: 36″ and 38″ Dexterity: RH and LH Loft: 3° Lie: 70° Toe-hang: Toe Up Head Weight: 370g (Standard) or 395g (Counterbalance) Grip: SuperStroke’s Pistol 1.0 (Standard lengths), SuperStroke’s 2.0XL 13.75’’ Round grip (36″), or with SuperStroke’s 3.0 17’’ Round grip (38″) Shaft: KBS CT Putter 120 Stepless Black (Standard) or KBS Custom Graphite Putter (Counterbalance)

The mostly black aesthetic

The most confounding thing about this new black putter is that it is not completely black.

Usually when companies walk the murdered path, they make every nook and cranny of the putter the blackest of black. For the Spider ZT Black, TaylorMade opted for a mostly black look.

“Your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.”

While most of the metal and the insert are all black, the Spider ZT Black still has quite a bit of non-black.

To paraphrase the quote above:

“The Spider ZT Black is only MOSTLY black. There’s a big difference between mostly black and all black. Mostly dead is slightly non-black.“

The sight lines are white which probably makes them more useful than black lines. I get that. The logos on the sole of the putter are white as well. That white could have been painted black.

The truly odd thing is that there is still a whole bunch of blue on the putter.

The sole plate is blue and so is the headcover. Maybe the blue is intended to be a signature color for the Spider 5K-ZT line and that is why TaylorMade left parts of the Spider ZT Black putter blue.

However, the blue headcover has me flummoxed.

Why didn’t TaylorMade make the headcover black? That seems low-hanging fruit for boosting the cool. A black cover would really complement the black shaft and other black components.

I’d probably be less critical if TaylorMade was not a great headcover company. Seriously, the various incarnations of their Spider headcovers are outstanding.

Just look at the cover for the limited-edition werewolf-themed Midnight Howl Spider from last Halloween. The headcover that went with that putter was arguably even cooler than the putter itself.

(With the last name Wolfe, I really should have bought one of those putters …)

I suppose if this new Spider ZT Black is just a line extension, then the stock headcover makes sense. It just seems like a missed opportunity for TaylorMade to make something special for it.

TaylorMade Spider ZT Black availability and pricing

If you are looking to score an aliquot (look it up) of TaylorMade’s delicious Spider darkness, they are available online today and (possibly) in a shop near you today or very soon.

Take note that the model dictates the availability.

The triple-line versions of the Spider ZT Black will be sold only online at www.taylormadegolf.com. The single-line version will be sold online and in “limited quantities” in retail shops.

Unfortunately, I do not have any production numbers I can pass along. I’m thinking that they will be more abundant than a limited-edition Spider and scarcer than the stock Spider 5K-ZT.

If you want one, I’d head to www.taylormadegolf.com with a modicum of haste.

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